DID JOHN THE BAPTIST ESTABLISH A CHURCH?

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    To which would you rather belong? 

1.      A church established by the divine Son of God? 

2.      Or, a church established by a man?

 

B.      If we were making a contrast between deity and man, the contrast would be starkly different.  Deity would outshine man in every area considered:  wisdom, strength, love, purity, existence, omniscience, and omnipresence.

 

C.     In times past, the Baptist Church tried to trace their beginnings back to the first century. 

1.      Charles Spurgeon

 

“We believe that the Baptists are the original Christians. We did not commence our existence at the reformation, we were reformers before Luther or Calvin were born; we never came from the Church of Rome, for we were never in it, but we have an unbroken line up to the apostles themselves. We have always existed from the very days of Christ…” (From The New Park Street Pulpit, Vol.VII, Page 225). 

 

2.      Some affirmed that the church was established in the days of John the Baptist.

a.      “At one time all Baptists rejected the idea that Baptists are Protestants and at one time all Baptists believed that we sprang from the first church established by Jesus Christ while He was on this earth. The greatest theological minds among Baptists have always taught that the first church was a Baptist church; that all early apostolic churches were Baptist churches; and that originally all churches and Christians were Baptists. The greatest Baptist scholars, theologians and historians have believed and taught that the Baptist church was established by Jesus and His disciples upon the foundation laid by John the Baptist” (A Brief Baptist History Of Origins, Larry Landis (landmarkbiblebaptist.net).

b.      “Since Jesus founded his church during his earthly ministry and promised “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it,” so-called Landmark Baptists believe that means an unbroken line of church succession dating back to Christ’s lifetime. And since John the Baptist immersed Jesus, the church Christ formed was a Baptist church, some add” (Who founded the Baptist movement– John Smyth or John the Baptist? – Baptist News Global) 

 

c.       NOTE:  This is NOT the prevailing view of the Baptists anymore.  We will talk about the history of their founding later in this lesson.

 

I.                   LET’S TALK ABOUT JOHN THE BAPTIST

 

A.    Family

1.      His parents were Zacharias and Elisabeth (Luke 1:5)

a.      Zacharias was a priest.  (NOTE:  John could have become a priest.  Instead, he was chosen to fulfill another work).

b.      Elisabeth was “of the daughters of Aaron.”

2.      Their faithfulness (Luke 1:6)

 

And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

 

3.      Their cross (Luke 1:6)

 

And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren; and they both were now well striken in years.

 

4.      This loyal couple was chosen to give birth to a son.  An angel of the Lord made the announcement to Zacharias while he ministered in the temple of the Lord (Luke 1:13).

 

But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias:  for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

 

a.      Elisabeth conceived just as the angel announced (Luke 1:24).

b.      She delivered a son (Luke 1:57).

c.       They called his name “John” (Luke 1:60, 63).  This name means:  “Jehovah shows grace” or “the Lord is gracious.”

 

B.      His ministry

1.      He was a herald of the coming Christ (Matt. 3:11-12; John 1:6-8, 23, 26-27; John 1:36).

2.      He was a prophet of the coming kingdom.

a.      He would come in the spirit and power of Elias (Luke 1:17; Mark 9:11-13; Matt. 11:13-14).

b.      He had the attire and sustenance of a prophet (Matt. 3:4).

c.       The Lord commended him as a prophet (Matt. 11:7-11; Luke 7:26-28).

d.      John foretold the coming of the kingdom of God (Matt. 3:1).

e.       The people believed him to be a prophet (Matt. 21:26; Mark 11:32; Luke 20:6).

f.        John was mistreated and put in prison (Matt. 11:2; Luke 3:19-20).

3.      He was a preacher of repentance to the Jews.

a.      “Repent ye…” (Matt. 3:1).

b.      “Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance” (Matt. 3:8).

c.       “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance…” (Matt. 3:11).

d.      “John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins” (Mark 1:4).

4.      He was a servant who understood his role.

a.      He did not assume anything that was not his (John 1:19-20).

b.      He submitted to baptizing the Christ (Matt. 3:13-15; Mark 1:9).

c.       He was willing to decrease when it came his time (John 3:25-30).

5.      He was a baptizer who immersed in the Jordan River (Matt. 3:5-6; Mark 1:4-5; John 1:28; 3:23).

6.      He was a man who had his doubts (Matt. 11:2-3; Luke 7:19-20).

7.      He was a martyr for the God of heaven (Matt. 14:8-12).

8.      He was the transitional spokesmen between the Law and the New Testament.

9.      He the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy

a.      The voice of one crying in the wilderness (Matt. 3:3; Mark 1:2-3; Luke 3:4-6)

b.      Elias who was to come (Mal. 4:5).

10.  He is an example of faithfulness for all today.

11.  NOTE:  He was never commissioned to establish a church.  During his lifetime, he never built a church using his name or his work as its proper name.

 

II.                LET’S TALK ABOUT DIFFERENT BAPTISMS

 

A.    John definitely baptized many individuals (Mark 1:5).  And, even Jesus was immersed by John in the Jordan (Mark 1:9).  Some, therefore, conclude that the church Jesus established was a Baptist Church.

 

B.      There are seven baptisms mentioned in the Bible.

1.      The baptism of the Old Covenant (Heb. 6:2)

2.      The baptism of Moses (I Cor. 10:1-2)

3.      The baptism of suffering (Mark 10:38-39)

4.      The baptism of John (Mark 1:4-5).

5.      The baptism of the Holy Spirit (Matt. 3:11)

6.      The baptism of fire (Matt. 3:11)

7.      The Lord’s baptism, or, the baptism of the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 19:5)

 

C.     Each of these baptisms served its own purpose.  Today, there is only one baptism that saves men (Eph. 4:5).

 

One Lord, one faith, one baptism.

 

D.    John’s baptism was a preparatory baptism.  It lasted till the cross of Calvary.  At that time, the New Testament went into effect.  The baptism that is commanded in the New Testament is the Lord’s baptism (Acts 19:1-7).

1.      Disciples discovered in Ephesus (Acts 19:1)

2.      Discussion about receiving the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:2)

3.      Dialogue about John’s baptism (Acts 19:3-4)

 

And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized?  And they said, Unto John’s baptism.  Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

 

4.      Deference to the Lord’s baptism (Acts 19:5)

5.      Dissemination of the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:6)

6.      Documentation of the number of man (Acts 19:7).

 

E.      The baptism that is valid today is the baptism authorized by Jesus Christ and known as the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16).

 

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:  and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.

 

1.      This was the baptism preached by Peter and the apostles on Pentecost Day (Acts 2:28; 41).

2.      This was the baptism taken to Samaria by Philip the evangelist (Acts 8:12).

3.      This was the baptism commanded by Peter to the household of Cornelius (Acts 10:47-47).

4.      This was the baptism to which Saul of Tarsus submitted (Acts 22:16).

5.      This was the baptism taught by Paul as an apostle of Jesus Christ (Acts 19:5; Rom. 6:3-4).

6.      NOTE:  When one obeys this baptism, he is saved (Mark 16:16).  That saved individual is then added by the Lord to the church (Acts 2:47).  It was not the Baptist church in any shape, form, or fashion.

 

III.             LET’S TALK ABOUT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CHURCH

 

A.    In Matthew 16:15-20, Jesus conducts a discussion with His disciples.  In this text, He promises to build His church.

 

He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?  And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona:  for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.  And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven:  and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.  Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

 

1.      The words:  “I will build my church…”

2.      The church had not been built at this point in time.  It was still in the future.

3.      At this time, John the Baptist was dead (See Matt. 14:3-12). 

4.      Thus, the church was not established in the days of John the Baptist.

 

B.      In Acts 2, the gospel of Christ is preached for the first time following the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ.  In Acts 2:47, the inspired Luke tells us that the saved were added by the Lord to the church.

 

Praising God, and having favour with all the people.  And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

 

1.      This is the first time, we read of the church’s being in existence.

2.      From this point onward, the church is always spoken of as a present reality.

3.      The church had its beginning in the city of Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost following our Lord’s ascension to the right hand of God.

 

C.     The church and the kingdom are the same institution.

1.      In Matthew 16:18, Jesus said He would build His church.  In the very next statement, He told Peter that He would give him the keys of the kingdom.  These are not separate entities.  The church is the kingdom and the kingdom is the church.

2.      The Bible is clear as to when the kingdom was established.  Let’s look at four verses.

a.      Mark 9:1

 

And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God come with power.

 

1)      The kingdom of God would come with power.

2)      Jesus said that some that were present at that time would see the kingdom come with power.

a)      Either Jesus lied,

b)      Or, Jesus was ignorant,

c)      Or, there are people from the first century who are living today, if the kingdom is not here.

b.      Acts 1:8

 

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:  and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

 

1)      When the power came, the kingdom would come.

2)      When the Holy Spirit came, the power could come.

c.       Acts 2:1-4

 

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

 

1)      When the power came, the kingdom would come.

2)      When the Holy Ghost came, the power would come.

3)      The Holy Ghost came on the day of Pentecost.

4)      The power came on the day of Pentecost.

5)      Thus, the kingdom came on the day of Pentecost.

d.      Colossians 1:13

 

Who delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.

 

1)      The Colossians had been translated into the kingdom.

2)      If the kingdom did not exist, this could not have been possible.

3)      It was possible because the kingdom came into existence on the day of Pentecost.

 

D.    Additional verses:

1.      The least in the kingdom is greater than John (Matt. 11:11; Luke 7:28).

2.      Thoughts about Luke 16:16 that says:  “The law and the prophets were until John:  since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.”

 

IV.             LET’S TALK ABOUT CHRIST AND THE CHURCH

 

A.    Jesus built the church (Matt. 16:18).

 

B.      Jesus purchased the church (Acts 20:28)

 

C.     The church is Jesus’ bride (Rom. 7:4; II Cor. 11:2; Eph. 5:32; Rev. 21:2)

 

D.    Jesus is the cornerstone of the church of the foundation of the church (I Cor. 3:11; Eph. 2:20)

 

E.      Jesus is the head of the church (Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18).

 

F.      Jesus is the Savior of the body (Eph. 5:23).

 

G.     Jesus is the high priest over the temple of God, the church (Heb. 3:1; 10:21).

 

H.    Jesus is the shepherd of the sheep (Heb. 13:20).

NOTE:  John the Baptist is not connected in any way to the church after its formation. 

 

V.                LET’S TALK ABOUT THE BIBLE DESIGNATIONS (NAMES) FOR THE CHURCH

 

A.    A list of ten designations:

1.      The church (Acts 2:47)

2.      Church of God (Acts 20:28)

3.      The churches of Christ (Rom. 16:16)

4.      Temple of God (I Cor. 3:6)

5.      Body of Christ (Eph. 1:22-23)

6.      House of God (I Tim. 3:15)

7.      Church of the living God (I Tim. 3:15)

8.      Church of the firstborn (Heb. 12:23)

9.      Flock of God (I Pet. 5:2)

10.  Bride of Christ (Rev. 21:9)

 

B.      The word “Baptist” is never applied to the church in the New Testament.

 

C.     John was a “Baptist,” not because he was a member of the Baptist Church, but because he was one who baptized others (See John 3:23).

 

And John also was baptizing in Enon near to Salim, because there was much water there:  and they came, and were baptized.

 

VI.             LET’S TALK ABOUT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE BAPTIST CHURCH

 

A.    In the late 1600s, the main church in England was The Church of England.

1.      This church held on to many of the teachings and practices of the Catholic Church.

2.      Some of her members were not enthralled with the Catholic Church at all.

 

B.      These individuals began to separate themselves from The Church of England.

1.      They were called “separatists.”

2.      These separatists began to form small, independent churches of their own.

 

C.     In 1609, the first Baptist Church was established in England under the leadership of a man name John Smyth.

a.      He opposed a State-run religion.

b.      He opposed having a liturgy.

c.       He opposed the hierarchal structure of the Church of England.

d.      He opposed infant baptism and accepted “believer’s” baptism.

 

VII.          LET’S TALK ABOUT MAN-MADE CHURCHES

 

A.    If Jesus promised to build His church, what right do men have to build their own churches?

 

B.      Man-made churches are the result of the falling away predicted in the Scriptures and the
Reformation Movement that came after that.

 

C.     Man-made churches are focused on man-made things:

1.      Man-made organizational structures

2.      Man-made creeds and confessions and disciplines

3.      Man-made names for the church

4.      Man-made plans of salvation

5.      Man-made forms of worship

6.      Man-made rationale (i.e., pluralism, rationalism, tolerance)

 

D.    Jesus’s words about things that God has not planted (Matt. 15:13).

 

But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted up.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    There is no Baptist Church in the Bible.

 

B.      Men become so wrapped up in their man-made doctrines that they study the Bible in an attempt to prove their man-made ideas. 

 

C.     If John the Baptist were alive today, his baptism would be rejected by the Baptists.  We say this because his baptism was for the remission of sins (Mark 1:4).

 

John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

 

D.    To which would you rather belong? 

3.      A church established by the divine Son of God? 

4.      Or, a church established by a man?